Often forget to bring things? try this one simple trick

Who is not familiar with this one scenario: you are halfway there or have arrived at your destination, eh! Suddenly remembered that the laptop or important files that were supposed to be worked on that day were left at home. As a result, you have to turn back again or ask for help from the courier service sender. Often forgetting to bring important items is really annoying. But no need to back. There is one simple trick you can do so that your friends won't be stamped by your friends as forgetful anymore.

Natural memory strategies can help you avoid forgetting too many times

Even if you try to remember it, there are still things that you often forget to bring. According to a study published in the Journal of Memory and Cognition, there is a special trick that can help someone who often forgets. This trick is called unitization, or what researchers call the natural memory strategy. Unitization is relating the relationship between two different objects to create a new scenario, in which you can imagine the causal consequences. Confused?

To put it simply: You often forget to bring an umbrella (first thing), even though the weather was erratic. Now, try directly hanging that umbrella on the doorknob of your front door (second thing). So the next time you're going outside, you can immediately see that umbrella and take it with you. Really, it's that simple?

According to the researchers, unitization itself works in three stages: combination, motion, and understanding of the sequence of actions or consequences. This method of unitization subconsciously builds a connection in your brain between the umbrella and the door (combined). Once you're about to leave, your brain will associate the umbrella and door with “outdoor activities,” and “outdoor activities” will remind you to lock the door (understanding of the consequences). That way, this will make you remember two things at once, namely bringing an umbrella before leaving the house and locking the door (order andmotion).

You can apply this trick to any object that you think is important to carry and not to be left behind. For example, put your cellphone near your office bag so that when you leave in the morning, you will automatically take your cellphone and briefcase without having to think about it.

Why can this trick help you to remember?

Human memory is actually influenced by many things, two of which are short-term and long-term memory.

Long-term memory is information that is stored for a long time. Long-term memory can be subconscious, such as how to operate a computer or drive a vehicle, but it can also be a memory of information or knowledge you acquired during your school days, or past events. These memories are often unconscious, but can be recalled if needed or if there is a trigger associated with the memory.

Meanwhile, short-term memory is usually in the form of relatively new information and only lasts 18-30 seconds. Therefore, short-term memories can easily be lost if they are not accessed again, are not needed, or are replaced by new information that is considered more important. Forgetting to bring things is usually caused by the "burnt" of your short-term memory about this, for example because your focus was diverted by the ringing of the phone or the horrendous news on tv that morning. Or it could be because you put the wrong thing somewhere.

This is the reason why getting into the habit of performing the unitization trick can help strengthen your short-term memory. If accessed frequently, short-term memory can turn into long-term memory.